Real comic shops!

I didn't expect to be posting for a while as we're out of town visiting relatives, but it turns out I've got a chance, so here I am.

Since we are out of town, and in an actual city, we took the opportunity today to visit several comic book shops (there are none in our small town, of course). I never did get to comic shops often, and probably haven't been to one in something over ten years, so I wasn't sure what to expect since I was sure they had changed since way-back-when in the days of speculation.

Store #1
The first shop we stopped at, a smaller store, was a pleasant surprise. We (myself, husband, twelve-year-old and seven-year-old) walked in and the first thing we saw was an entire display of kid-oriented comics, from Marvel Adventures to Archie. There was a full wall of trade paperbacks, a good selection of mainstream comic titles (and I have to admit I didn't check out the indies because I wasn't thinking of doing a post on this at the time), a moderate selection of action figures, and a smallish collection of back issues. There was also (and this was the highlight for the seven-year-old) the "best vending machine in the world," and each girl got herself a little superhero bobble-head figure--the twelve-year-old got Storm and the seven-year-old got the Black Cat so both were thrilled. (These were the only two female figures available in the machine, and the twelve-year-old loves Storm and the seven-year-old loves cats, so really it couldn't have been more perfect.) While we were there, another parent with children came in, so clearly this was a family-friendly store. When I asked for assistance finding an item, the proprietor was friendly and helpful and knew exactly where it was. The store was clean, reasonably well-organized, and welcoming, and probably would have been so for non-comic fans as well. Although small, it was not crowded although it was about as well stocked as it could be.

Purchased: For the twelve-year-old, Stan Lee Meets the Thing; for the seven-year-old, Astonishing X-Men; for myself, all seven volumes of Twisted Toyfare Theatre (whee!).

Grade: A


Store #2
The second store we found was really more of a gaming store--they had a separate gaming room set up, which is a very cool idea (and the gaming stuff probably makes a lot of comic shops commercially viable, since comics alone are no longer as saleable as they were in the 90s). It was a much larger store, and in fact advertised that fact, but they could probably fit quite a bit more in it as it was quite roomy. Good selection of new comics of all sorts (everything in the store seems to be bagged). Nice selection of action figures of many sorts. Moderate selection of TPBs. Very roomy. Also had a section devoted to kids' books, although I only saw teenagers while I was there, no doubt because of the Friday night gaming sessions.

When I asked about back issues I was pointed to the back room, a large storeroom-type room with a couch, tables (presumably for extra gaming room) and a lot of longboxes. I sat down to look, but since I hadn't planned on getting to a shop this trip I hadn't made a list, and really I have no idea which Green Lantern back issues I'd want without having made a list. They had some back issues which hadn't been checked in yet fully, but if you wanted one you could bring it to the checkout and they'd price it for you and you could decide whether you wanted it at that price or not, which is probably fine if you're familiar with back-issue pricing, but I am not and haven't been in probably fifteen years, so I didn't bother, particularly as we were running late anyway. If I hadn't thought to ask, I wouldn't have known that the back room existed, because it really doesn't look like part of the store. Once we were in there, an older man came in and asked if I needed any help, which I did, so they obviously keep track of their customers--just need a bigger sign with an arrow, I guess! :)

This store seemed more fan-oriented than the first one and had a very club-like atmosphere, which for me is fine because I'm comfortable just about anywhere and I am a comic fan, but I can see where someone who was new to comics might have felt a little out of their depth. The girls and I were the only females in the place, but didn't feel at all out of place because of it.

Purchased: Volume 5 of the Teen Titans TPB series, for the twelve-year-old.

Grade: B-


Store #3
We went into this one and the husband and I both said that this was what a comic book store was supposed to look like--table after table filled with longboxes! At least that was what they all seemed to look like back in the day, when we were just thrilled that they existed at all. Back then comic stores just had comics. This one had a small gaming section but was primarily devoted to comics and related items.

There were separate dollar boxes for less-valuable books, a very good selection of back issues, a decent selection of trade paperbacks (although still not the GL TPS I was looking for!), a small action-figure section, a small hardback section, a very good selection of new comics. A comfortable atmosphere, although probably not someplace you'd stay for hours on end. Younger crowd, approximately equal male/female mix (the clerk was female as well). Less cozy than the first store but certainly friendly.

Purchased: For the twelve-year-old, Ultimate Power. For the seven-year-old, Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four. For me, the Captain America: Red Menace TPB.

Grade: A-

[Added later, because we hit one more shop on the way out of town.]

Store #4
This was another comic-shop-that-looks-like-a-comic-shop, with plenty of back-issue longboxes, a no-frills atmosphere and a definite comic focus. Not huge, a bit crowded and awkward to get around. Good selection of new books, moderate selection of trades, moderate selection of back issues. And the best customer service of any place we went.

The husband dropped us off this time, and the two kids and I went in. We passed the new comic shelf, and went on to the trades, which were on the wall behind the longboxes. After we'd been there a little while, the clerk (proprietor?) came up to us to see if we were finding what we wanted. He asked the girls what they were interested in (he actually talked to them instead of asking me, the parent--although since they're both a bit shy at times I did help out). When he found out that the twelve-year-old loves Birds of Prey he showed us the newest trade. When he learned that the seven-year-old likes the X-Men he found us a small paperback telling the story of Storm as a little girl, which the seven-year-old wouldn't let out of her hands the entire time we were in the store. He noticed the girls admiring a Zatanna action figure and let us know about a Zatanna series that's going to be coming out. He and I talked a little about comics as well. The guy behind the counter was also friendly and helpful. When we left the store, they both made a point of saying goodbye. Now that's how we like to be treated in a comic shop. He didn't point the girls to the "girl books", or even the "kid books"--he made a point of seeing what they actually liked. If life is fair, that guy should be in business for a long time to come.

Purchased: For the twelve-year-old, the latest Birds of Prey trade and the most recent Heroes for Hire. For the seven-year-old, a book on Storm as a child which is apparently still in the car at the moment. For me, New Excalibur 13.

Grade: A